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I've been playing with the idea of what I call a "natural divider diptych." This is a wide painting that is divided in half by a natural object, such as a tree, with each half working as a complete painting as well as contributing to the unified whole.

Traditional diptychs are indeed two separate paintings, often hung together on a wall. I've always felt that treating a beautifully panoramic landscape this way weakens it. However, by using a natural divider, one that is right there in the landscape, the integrity of the scene is maintained. Furthermore, the divider creates a certain amount of necessary tension and adds interest; nor is it any longer just wasted wall space.

Or, at least, this is how I feel about it.

Here's one of the latest. Is my idea working? Or should I just go back to doing more traditional compositions?

It's unusual because your painting style is traditional and the composition is contemporary. The tree, dominating the composition, messes with the wholeness of the piece. I get the feeling that the tree is in attack mode. If the tree were thinner, (like a pine?) maybe it would work as a diptych. I applaud your branching out and trying different things; Like Thiebaud's cakes, that's how we discover new realms in art.

I wonder if, if there was something going away from us, on that path to the right, that the man could be watching, --whether it be another person, or a few cows, would help. I like your piece, and think with a tweak or two, it will do what ou want. I really like that the dog watches us as the man is looking at something else. Put that something else there, and even if we hide behind the tree, we can watch, too. The dogs appear to be shepherds, so cows would be appropriate. It's a beautiful painting, but it does need a bit more.
Ella

Great sense of light and I like the dream like feel but the composition seems lacking and I feel blocked from exploring the rest of the scene. I want the pink tree to be the center of interest but I just cant get there with the large tree in the center in the way.

This is a good idea IMHO. When walking down trails or streets, I think we have all observed scenes that have a structure like this, and you have captured that feeling very well.

The width of the tree almost makes this a triptych to me.

The execution, which is not the question here, is really professional.

I am no expert, but the placement of the figures and the trail seem to lack something. I think that it would be worth a try to have the trail visible across the view, running behind the tree, and have the person,and maybe one dog, on one side looking over to the other side, where there could be a dog looking back as if it had just been called, or was checking to see if the master was following.

Hello sir. I have not been around much. Good to see your work again. Nice colors. I think that the division is an interesting idea. Next time try a less dominating divider? See what happens. Good work. Good Idea.
Bill

I'm not questioning anyone's comments; I would make another option in this discussion regarding varying the ration of the diptych by lengthening to 12x36 and putting more into the two sides while taking up less focus on the center tree, keeping it a dividing end piece for each view.
Jon C.